Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games: Djirèye Clotilde Coly hails "an ambitious challenge met" by Senegal

The Minister of Youth and Sports of Senegal reflected on the organizational challenge of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Expressing satisfaction, gratitude, and future prospects, Djirèye Clotilde Coly praised the mobilization of young people, while also highlighting the legacy that these YOG must leave for future generations.

In an interview with the digital media outlet "Le Refresh," she reaffirmed the strategic role of youth in the country's development process. For Minister Djirèye Clotilde Coly, young people not only constitute a major component of the population, but also represent an essential force in building the Senegal of tomorrow.

"If we want to develop this country, it cannot be done without young people. It is at the level of youth and children that we need to work to have the Senegalese we want," she said.

"Senegal has risen to the challenge."

Reflecting on the organization of the Youth Olympic Games, Ms. Coly stated that it was a "particularly ambitious undertaking." A challenge, she said, that Senegal successfully met, both in terms of organization and the experience offered to participants and visitors. "The Youth Olympic Games are about providing an experience for Senegalese people, Africans, and the entire world. And today, we can say that we have succeeded," she declared, congratulating the government and the Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee (COJOJ) for their efforts.

The minister also congratulated the Senegalese people for their welcome and hospitality. "Since these Games began, we have seen that the guests are welcomed with our 'teranga' (...) I was at the Olympic Village a few days ago and I saw young people who expressed their satisfaction at being in Senegal and their desire to return ," she testified.

A legacy that goes beyond medals

For the Minister of Youth and Sports, the impact of the Youth Olympic Games should not be assessed solely through sporting performances or infrastructure. She also indicated that thousands of young people received training as part of the event. "It is now up to the State to create the necessary conditions for their professional integration and to provide them with greater support towards entrepreneurship."

According to her, in terms of material legacy, the Olympic village, enriched with six new sites, the Olympic swimming pool and the multi-sports complexes constitute a heritage intended to benefit the Senegalese people in a lasting way.

Reflecting on the sporting results achieved, Djirèye Clotilde Coly emphasizes that the most important thing is not necessarily the number of medals won, but also the experience gained by the young athletes. This experience could help develop Senegal's future champions.

"You can believe in your nation"

The minister finally delivered a message of hope to Senegalese youth, urging them to believe in their country and their own abilities. "You can believe in your nation. You can truly believe in yourselves because the State is not just the President of the Republic, it is also you," she declared to the youth.